The MotoGP Word Championship returns from its North American jaunt this weekend as the series jets back to Europe for the second race in...

The MotoGP Word Championship returns from its North American jaunt this weekend as the series jets back to Europe for the second race in just seven days. The third set of back-to-back races this season take place on opposite sides of the Atlantic, leaving the riders little time for rest and recovery, although a three-week break before the next race in Portugal should give them ample time to recharge their batteries. The cancellation of the Hungarian round will provide a welcome breather before the gruelling trip to Australia and Malaysia. With the current 125cc series leader now looking like a safe bet for the title, the attention turns to the next five riders in the championship, who are covered by just 28 points.
Julián Simón’s championship march rolls on relentlessly, the Spaniard struggling to stick the pace with the lead group at Indianapolis but still coming away with an optimum eleven-point haul for fifth place. The Bancaja rider predicted that he would struggled in the past two round but is confident that he will once again be the man to beat back in Europe. His team-mate Bradley Smith was one of the pacesetters at Indy and was unfortunate to be beaten to the top step of the podium by Nico Terol, although second place was enough to bring back the confidence that he can win races again. Meanwhile, Sergio Gadea is aiming to end a run of three races without a podium as he looks to improve on fourth place in the championship.

Julián Simón:

“I’m really happy that the San Marino Grand Prix is coming around so quickly because Misano is a track I love. Luckily I have come away from Brno and Indianapolis – two circuits I don’t really like – with some good results in the bag and now I’m ready to try and set the pace again in this one. The objective is just to stay confident, keep scoring points and more importantly keep enjoying it. From race to race the team are showing that they are totally behind me and every week they put a bike under me that is 100% competitive and capable of winning. Misano is a circuit that suits my riding style so there are no excuses – this Sunday I’m going out to win. It has some fast sections, a really slow final section and a lot of hard braking zones, which I like a lot. In general it is an enjoyable circuit with a lot of fun corners.”

Sergio Gadea:

“We’re in a bit of a tricky situation because have haven’t managed a good result in either of the last two races but I like Misano and I know I can be fast there. I’ve yet to actually finish on the podium there but in general it suits me. Also, it is much more like racing in Spain because you can feel the passion from the fans all the way around the track. It is a shame because in both the Czech Republic and the United States we had good practice sessions despite a couple of setbacks but in the race good fortunate turned its back on us. We have no choice but to get charged up again for this weekend, ride hard from Friday and get back on the podium in the San Marino Grand Prix. We have given a lot of points away so it is important over these last five races to stay competitive and finish the championship as high up the order as possible.”